Counter set-up rack



Dec. 4`,` l1934. B. M. OSWELL 1,983,187

COUNTER. SET-UP RACK Filed April 23, 1934 EF A Patentedv Dec. 4, 1934 'iPATENT olf-Flos oNI'rED STATES 5 Claims.

My invention relates to a counter set-up rack that is especiallydesigned for use on lunch counlters andthe like for holding in properposition sugar bowls, pepper and salt shakers, sauce bott tles and thelike'and for also receiving and holding in convenient position menucards or bills oi i'are. v

The principal objects of my invention are, to

provide a rack of the class described that is relalo tively simple inconstruction, inexpensive of manufacture and which may be convenientlyapplied to or removed from the counter and further, to construct therack and its attaching ineens so that said rack may be easily andquickle ly removed from the vcounter in order to permit the latterto bewashed, painted or ilnished.

it further object of my invention is, to provide a counter set-up rack'which when properly positioned on the counter, is nrmly retainedthereon so by readily releasable catches and which rackis constructed sothat there are no projecting parts v to interfere with the treemovements or catch the clothing of persons working behind the. counter.lilith the foregoing and other objects in view, ggg; my inventionconsists in certain novel features oi construction and arrangements ofparts that will be hereinafter more iully described and claimed andillustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

` lille. i is a perspective view of a rack constructed in accordancewith my invention and showing the same in position on the rear edge oi acounter. I l'iiig. 2 is a rear elevational view of a portio g5 of the`rack and showing one ol the standards and the keeper that serves tosupport the standard on the counter.

lilg. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line oi 2. m lli'ig. il is ahorizontal section takenon the line iis-4 or Fig. 2. l v Referring bynumerals to the accompanying drawing which illustrates a preferredembodinient of my invention, 8, 8 designate clips or w keeperspreferably formed-offshoot metal that are secured by screws or the liketo'the rear edge of the counter C. i j 'The intermediate portions ofthese clips or keepers are offset or bent loutwardly relative to m theend portions so as to provide vertically d isposed sockets i'or thereception of the lower pornons ot the posts or standards of the rack.

AEach postor standard comprises s palr of members 10 and 1,1, preferablyformed otnarrow 55 strips of metal and the intermediate-tion of (Cl.S12-140.4) u

member 10 is bent to provide a short horizontally disposed portion l2,that serves as a foot or shoulder to rest on the upper surface of thecounter to which the rack is applied.

Rigidly seated in the lower portion of member do l0, a short distancebelow the foot or shoulder l2, is the head of a rivet 13 that extendsthrough the lower portion of member ll and the latter is mounted so asto swing on saidrivet in order to facilitate the cleansing and polishingof the rack. o5;

interposed between those portions of the members 10 and il that areconnected by the rivet 13, is the upper portion of a thin strip i4 olresilient metal preferably steel and the inter- A mediate portion ofthis' strip is bent outwardly 7o to form a shoulder i5 which when thelower portions of the members lo and ll4 are inserted in the clips orkeepers 8, projects beneath said clip or keeper to hold the Yuprightmembers firmly therein. v v 75 i This shoulder `l5 and the lowerjportionol the latching member extend downwardly through a slot 16 that isformed in the lower portion ol member il and a corresponding slot 17 isformed in the lower portion of member lil in order to a@ permit thelower portion ot the latching member-to be pressed rearwardly when thelower portions of members lo and ll are withdrawn from the clip orkeeper.

Secured to that portion of `member l0 above the loot or shoulder 12,preferably by means ci rivets lt, are horizontally disposed spaced railsi9, preierably oi metal straps and the ends of the two lower rails arecurved away from member l0 so as to overlie the counter andpartially'enclose the w bovls or bottles that are positioned against therac y In order to provide iirm and substantial joints between theupright members l0 and rails 19. the latter are slightly indented oroiset as designated 95. by 20 at the points where `the members '10 crossthe rails 19, las illustrated in Fig. 4 and this arrangement provides avery rigid structure that :ilrmly holds the parte in assembled relation.

The ends of the upper rail 19 terminate lust 100 gegend the uprightmembers l0, as illustrated in Positioned between the upright members 10and 1J, are springs 21 .ol resilient metal, the upper portions of whichare secured to members l0 it@ 105' the rivets that connect 'said membersto the up perraillii.

The intermediate portions of these springs are l bent toward andnormally engage directly In order to facilitate the placing of the menuI cards between the members 10 and 11, the upper ends of members 11extend a short distance above the upper ends of members 10 and saidupwardly extending ends are curved away from the members 10 asillustrated in F18. 3.

When my improved rack. constructed as described, is applied to thecounter, the lower por-- tions of members 10 and l1 are inserteddownwardly through the clips or keepers 8 until the4 shoulders 12 reston the upper surface of the counter and with the 4parts so positionedthe shoulders 15 of the resilient latches project beneath the loweredges of the' keepers, thereby rmly holding the rack in proper positionon the counter.

Articles such as sugar bowls, salt and pepper shakers, sauce bottles andthe like, are positioned against the rack between the curved ends of thelower-rails 19 and the menu cards or bills of fare are inserted betweenmembers 10 and 11 and yieldingly held in such position by the pressureof the springs 21. When properly positioned upon the counter, there areno portions of the rack that project a substantial distance beyond therear edge of the counter and therefore persons working behind thecounter may move freely without danger of catching portions of theirclothing on the rack.

In the event that it is desired to wash, scrub,

paint or finish the upper surface of the counter,

the rack may be very easily land quickly removed through the clips orkeepers 8.

Thus when the rack is removed from the counter, the entire upper surfacethereof is free to be washed, polished or painted.

An especially desirable feature of my invention resides in thearrangement and locatin of the rack supporting clips on the rear edge ofthe counter, for by such arrangement, the upper surface of the counteris in no wise broken Yor marred by said fastening means or by the rackwhen properly positioned on the edge of the counter.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided a counter set-up rack that isrelatively simple in construction, inexpensive of manufacture and veryeffective in performing the functions for which it is intended.

It will be understood that minor changes in the size, form-andconstruction of the various parts of my improved counter set-up rack maybe made and substituted for those herein shown and described withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which is setforth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

anda -series of horizontally disposed rails connected to one member ofeach upright.

2. In a counter set-up rack, a pair of uprights,

' each comprising a. pair of members, the upper portions of which arespaced apart, one member of each upright being hinged to the othermember, means for anchoring the lower portions of said uprights to theedge of a counter, a spring arranged between the upper portions of themembers forming each upright and connected to one of said members and aseries of spaced horizontally disposed rails -connected to one member ofeach upright.

3. 'I'he combination with a. counter and a pair of clips secured to theedge thereof, of a counter set-up rack comprising a paid of uprights,each composed of two members, the lower portions of which areadapted toextend through the clips on the edge of the counter, latches carried bythe lower portions of said uprights for engaging said clips to retainthe uprights therein and a series of horizontally disposed rails securedto one mem# ber of each of said uprights. i

4. 'Ihe combination with a counter and a pair of clips secured to theedge thereof, of a counter set-up rack comprising a pair of uprights,each composed of two members, the lower portions of which are adapted toextend through the clips on the edge of the counter, latchescarried bythe lower portions of said uprights for engaging said clips'toretain theuprights therein, a series of horizontally disposed rails secured'to onemember of each of said uprights and springs located between the upperportions of the members forming each upright with the-upper portion ofeach spring secured to one of said uprights.

5. In a counterset-uprack, a pair of uprights,

rightle.

^ lBENJAMIN M. OSW'ELL.. f

